Goosebumps are small bumps on the skin that cause it to appear raised. They’re often associated with fear, creepiness, and goose-pimples (that is, contracting hair follicles). But what causes goosebumps? Why do they happen? And what can we do to make them go away? Let’s explore the science behind goosebumps in this article
What is a Goosebump?
The exact definition of a goosebump is hard to pin down because it isn’t really a specific thing. More precisely, it is a symptom that may be caused by a number of underlying factors. If you have goosebumps, your skin is slightly raised and maybe a little red. Your hair follicles are also contracting slightly, which is what causes the “gooseflesh” part. Goosebumps can be temporary or long term. While they’re most commonly associated with fear, they can be caused by a whole host of stimuli, including cold temperatures and sexual stimulation. They can also be a side effect of certain medications, especially antidepressants and some blood pressure medications.
How Are Goosebumps Formed?
Goosebumps are formed by muscles contracting around the hair follicles in your skin. These muscles are called arrector pili muscles, and they run in a vertical pattern along your skin. When blood flow to this muscle is increased, it causes the muscles to contract and pull on the hair follicles attached to your skin. This, in turn, makes your skin slightly raised. The best way to understand this process is to put it into context. Imagine that you are sitting in a room that is 68°F, just like a typical indoor room in the wintertime. Now, imagine that the thermostat in the room suddenly rises to 84°F. The natural reaction of the room (and, in this analogy, your body) is to try and cool itself down. That’s when blood vessels near your surface contract to pull blood back towards your heart. In the process, they pull heat away from the rest of your body and make your skin a little cooler.
Why Do We Have Goosebumps?
Goosebumps are a side effect of your body trying to regulate its temperature. When we have cold muscles near the surface of our skin, our body tries to warm them up by pulling blood away from the surface. This makes the skin a little cooler, which helps to regulate our body temperature. Goosebumps also play a role in accelerating our fight or flight response. When we sense danger, we want to either run away or make ourselves appear bigger and tougher so the danger will go away. This is regulated by neurotransmitters that make our muscles freeze up and make us look more threatening. It’s a very quick and easy way for our bodies to change our physical appearance so we can react more quickly to a threat.
When Do We Have Goosebumps?
Goosebumps are triggered by cold temperatures, which is why many people associate them with cold weather. However, in addition to being caused by cold air, goosebumps are also triggered by extreme emotions. This could be anything from a terrifying movie to a shocking piece of news. In short, goosebumps are caused by a change in temperature in your body. The most common times to experience this are when the weather is very cold or when you are extremely frightened. Cold temperatures - If you become cold enough, your body will try to warm itself up by bringing blood closer to the surface of your skin. This can cause your body to contract your skin’s arrector pili muscles and create goosebumps. Emotions - Fear, anxiety, and other extreme emotions can cause your body to overreact and shift blood flow towards your extremities, which can also create goosebumps.
How to Make Your Goosebumps Go Away!
The best way to make your goosebumps go away is simple: bring your body back to a normal temperature. If you are cold, put on a jacket or cuddle up with a blanket. If you are too warm, take off some layers or move to a cooler room. If you are extremely frightened, you may want to find a way to calm yourself down. Once you are back to a normal temperature, the goosebumps will subside. If you want to get rid of goosebumps quickly, you can try applying pressure to the area. This can cause your blood vessels to contract and force blood back towards your heart, which can help warm up cold skin.
Summary
Goosebumps, also called gooseflesh, are small bumps on the skin that cause it to appear raised. They are caused by muscles contracting around the hair follicles in your skin. When blood flow to these muscles increases, they contract and pull on the hair follicles, making your skin slightly raised. Goosebumps are caused by a change in temperature in your body and can be triggered by both cold temperatures and extreme emotions. The best way to make your goosebumps go away is to bring your body back to a normal temperature.
